Habitat Australopithecus afarensis lived approximately 3.9 million years ago.
Like modern day baboons, Australopithecus Afarensis lived in a diverse range of habitats. According to paleoenvironmental reconstructions it would seen that they preferred living in open savanna grasslands bordering woodlands areas. They favoured areas with permanent source of water with in a reasonable distance.
It is assumed that they lived in areas of Africa with access to water, grass plains and woodlands. These areas would have been thriving with other wild life but of corse with an equal number of predators. Food sources in this areas would have been abundant. A large variety of fruits, plants, tubers and roots.
The Australopithecus possessed the ability to climb trees but weren't as skilful as other ancient primates or the modern day baboons. The footage in the video below depicts the Australopithecus nesting in the long grass at night. However it is suggested that they may have used trees to seek refuge from predators. With males standing at approximately 1.5m tall and weighing about 59 kilograms and females slightly smaller a 1- 1.2m and weighing 35 kilograms, the Australopithecus were certainly not the largest of animals. They may have been the prey of some of the early ancient big cats. Ancestors of thelion, cheetah, tiger, jaguar and leopard.
Scientific evidence suggests that Africa's climate at this period in time was a warmer climate, similar to what it is today. This climate would have suited the needs of the Australopithecus with it's body of smaller statue covered in a medium layer of fur and hair.
Figure 2: Artist impression of Australopithecus in their natural habitat
Figure 3: Map dipicting area where fossils of the Australopithecines have been found
Adaptions
Behavioral
Bonding. Australopithecus were social beings and there is evidence of a significant bond between mothers and their offspring, particularly mothers with female offspring. This relationship between mother and child is evident in the modern day baboon and other modern day mammal species such as the Kangaroo, Koala, Lion, Tiger, Leopard and human beings.This would have helped the Australopithecus maintain stable 'family' type groups. Males were dominant figures in these groups and are thought to have had quite aggressive relationships with each other. Groups were nomadic and relatively small in numbers however it is suggested that groups may have come together at times when food sources were plentiful.
The environmental pressure that may have contributed to the Australopithecus developing such physiological adaption is for protection. The bipedal Australopithecus were easy prey to many of the other animals as they were significantly weaker, slower and lacked the physical attributes of large teeth and sharp claws. As noted before, the Australopithecus are social beings and would have been more comfortable in groups. Groups also allow tasks like food gathering to be shared and completed faster.
Didn't fight with their teeth and less violent than other primates.
The fossil evidence of the Australopithecus supports the idea that these beings were not particularly vicious and didn't fight with their teeth. The jaws and teeth of the Australopithecus are somewhat larger than the modern human but far smaller than those of monkey like the Baboon. They have small reduced canine and molar teeth. These teeth would have been suitable for eating but would not have assisted the greatly to attack predators.
The environmental pressure that could have led to this adaption may that been the fact the Australopithecus were reasonably small bodied creatures who mainly fed upon fruits, plants and other soft foods therefore they didn't require large sharp teeth for meat eating, hunting and warding off predators.
Structural
Large Hands and Curved Fingers.
The Australopithecus had curved finger bones that can be placed in a middle field between those of a modern human and those of a modern chimpanzee. These large hands would have assisted the Australopithecus' climbing ability. Scienctists speculate that these beings would not have been as skilled at climbing trees as other primates like possible ancestors of the Gorilla.The environmental pressure that may led to this structural adaption could have been an abundance of food located up high out of reach in taller trees.
Bipedal legs and Valgus Knees.
The fossil evidence found of the Australopithecus suggests that they walked on two legs. The short lower limbs and broad pelvis is similar to those of a modern day human being. These bipedal legs however weren't as developed as those of the modern day man. The Australopithecus was slow and had valgus knees. These knocked knees made their walking awkward. The bipedal legs would have certainly given the Australoithecus more height. With this height would have come the advantage to reach things easier, for example to reach food in trees. The environmental pressure that may have given rise to this adaption could have been a need for extra height.
Physiological
Brain Size.
From the scientific evidence discovered, it is suggest that the Australopithecus had a small brain. Such brain is estimated to be approximately 380-430 cc. With this brain size there would be limited brain activity. This suggests that these creatures were not very intellectually functioning. The modern human brain is about 1300-1500cc, so although the Australopithecus does possess similarities to the modern human it is really intellectually closer to a chimpanzee. This brain size wouldn't have necessarily helped or hindered the Australopithecus as this brain capacity was normal or better than most wildlife at this time. There isn't really a environmental pressure that could have led to this adaption as little is known about the internal workings of the Australopithecus. It is assumed that this type of brain was totally normal in this period of history. Animals were still developing higher intelligence.
Possible Reason for Extinction
With heights of 1.5m and 1.2m, male and female Australopithecus were certainly not large animals. They also lacked the strength and speed that many of the other, more vicious mammals possessed. Australopithecus did not have large canine teeth like many of the other animals had and used for fighting. Unlike Baboons, Australopithecus could not easily climb trees or rock faces. Although, structurally they possessed large hands and curved fingers, the Australopithecus was not nearly as talented climber like other primates. These factors all contribute to the fact that Australopithecies were easy prey. A possible reason for these Australopithecus beings becoming extinct is that they couldn't defend themselves and fight and they were simply killed off. Behavioral adaption No. 2 discusses how the Australopithecus didn't fight with their teeth and less violent than other primates. This lack of aggression could have surely contributed to the number of Australopithecus killed. There is direct fossil evidence of Australopithecus being attacked by leopards.
Australopithecus afarensis
English translation: Southern PrimateHabitat
Australopithecus afarensis lived approximately 3.9 million years ago.
Like modern day baboons, Australopithecus Afarensis lived in a diverse range of habitats. According to paleoenvironmental reconstructions it would seen that they preferred living in open savanna grasslands bordering woodlands areas. They favoured areas with permanent source of water with in a reasonable distance.
It is assumed that they lived in areas of Africa with access to water, grass plains and woodlands. These areas would have been thriving with other wild life but of corse with an equal number of predators. Food sources in this areas would have been abundant. A large variety of fruits, plants, tubers and roots.
The Australopithecus possessed the ability to climb trees but weren't as skilful as other ancient primates or the modern day baboons. The footage in the video below depicts the Australopithecus nesting in the long grass at night. However it is suggested that they may have used trees to seek refuge from predators. With males standing at approximately 1.5m tall and weighing about 59 kilograms and females slightly smaller a 1- 1.2m and weighing 35 kilograms, the Australopithecus were certainly not the largest of animals. They may have been the prey of some of the early ancient big cats. Ancestors of thelion, cheetah, tiger, jaguar and leopard.
Scientific evidence suggests that Africa's climate at this period in time was a warmer climate, similar to what it is today. This climate would have suited the needs of the Australopithecus with it's body of smaller statue covered in a medium layer of fur and hair.
Adaptions
Behavioral
- Bonding.
- Didn't fight with their teeth and less violent than other primates.
StructuralAustralopithecus were social beings and there is evidence of a significant bond between mothers and their offspring, particularly mothers with female offspring. This relationship between mother and child is evident in the modern day baboon and other modern day mammal species such as the Kangaroo, Koala, Lion, Tiger, Leopard and human beings.This would have helped the Australopithecus maintain stable 'family' type groups. Males were dominant figures in these groups and are thought to have had quite aggressive relationships with each other. Groups were nomadic and relatively small in numbers however it is suggested that groups may have come together at times when food sources were plentiful.
The environmental pressure that may have contributed to the Australopithecus developing such physiological adaption is for protection. The bipedal Australopithecus were easy prey to many of the other animals as they were significantly weaker, slower and lacked the physical attributes of large teeth and sharp claws. As noted before, the Australopithecus are social beings and would have been more comfortable in groups. Groups also allow tasks like food gathering to be shared and completed faster.
The fossil evidence of the Australopithecus supports the idea that these beings were not particularly vicious and didn't fight with their teeth. The jaws and teeth of the Australopithecus are somewhat larger than the modern human but far smaller than those of monkey like the Baboon. They have small reduced canine and molar teeth. These teeth would have been suitable for eating but would not have assisted the greatly to attack predators.
The environmental pressure that could have led to this adaption may that been the fact the Australopithecus were reasonably small bodied creatures who mainly fed upon fruits, plants and other soft foods therefore they didn't require large sharp teeth for meat eating, hunting and warding off predators.
- Large Hands and Curved Fingers.
- Bipedal legs and Valgus Knees.
PhysiologicalThe Australopithecus had curved finger bones that can be placed in a middle field between those of a modern human and those of a modern chimpanzee. These large hands would have assisted the Australopithecus' climbing ability. Scienctists speculate that these beings would not have been as skilled at climbing trees as other primates like possible ancestors of the Gorilla.The environmental pressure that may led to this structural adaption could have been an abundance of food located up high out of reach in taller trees.
The fossil evidence found of the Australopithecus suggests that they walked on two legs. The short lower limbs and broad pelvis is similar to those of a modern day human being. These bipedal legs however weren't as developed as those of the modern day man. The Australopithecus was slow and had valgus knees. These knocked knees made their walking awkward. The bipedal legs would have certainly given the Australoithecus more height. With this height would have come the advantage to reach things easier, for example to reach food in trees. The environmental pressure that may have given rise to this adaption could have been a need for extra height.
From the scientific evidence discovered, it is suggest that the Australopithecus had a small brain. Such brain is estimated to be approximately 380-430 cc. With this brain size there would be limited brain activity. This suggests that these creatures were not very intellectually functioning. The modern human brain is about 1300-1500cc, so although the Australopithecus does possess similarities to the modern human it is really intellectually closer to a chimpanzee. This brain size wouldn't have necessarily helped or hindered the Australopithecus as this brain capacity was normal or better than most wildlife at this time. There isn't really a environmental pressure that could have led to this adaption as little is known about the internal workings of the Australopithecus. It is assumed that this type of brain was totally normal in this period of history. Animals were still developing higher intelligence.
Possible Reason for Extinction
Sources
Figure 2: Artistic impression of Australopithecus in natural habitat.
D.Johanson. (Unknown). Australopithecus: Daily life. Retrieved 25th July, 2010 from http://www.freewebs.com/australopithecus/dailylife.htm
Figure 3: Map of Fossil Sites of the Australopithecines
Wikipedia. (2010). Australopithecus. Retrieved 23rd July, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australopithecus
Egyptian Myths. (2010). Ancient Egypt: the mythology- Baboons. Retrieved July 20th, 2010 fromhttp://www.egyptianmyths.net/baboon.htm
BBC. (2002). Fact File: Australopithecus. Retrieved July 23rd, 2010 from http://www.abc.net.au/beasts/factfiles/factfiles/australopithecus.htm
The MacGraw-Hill Companies. (2003). Fossil Apes. Retrieved July 21th, 2010 fromhttp://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/anthro/programs/csho/Content/Facultycvandinfo/Harrison/2002%20Harrison%20Fossil%20apes.pdf